Reading is an important part of the preschool curriculum here at Just For Kids LLC in Chicago. Although your three or four year-old might not yet be old enough to read books for themselves, it’s very important that they be exposed to books and taught to have an appreciation for literacy early in life.

Here are just a few surprising statistics that show how important reading is to a preschooler’s future intelligence:

• The educational careers of 25 to 40 percent of American children are imperiled because they don’t read well enough, quickly enough, or easily enough.
• Students who reported having all four types of reading materials (books, magazines, newspapers, encyclopedias) in their home scored, on average, higher than those who reporter having fewer reading materials.
• Children who have not developed some basic literacy skills by the time they enter school are 3 – 4 times more likely to drop out in later years.

Statistics courtesy of The Literacy Company.

Want to gift your child a gift that keeps on giving throughout their adult life? Take the time to teach them a love of reading while they’re still in preschool.

3 Tips For Teaching Your Chicago Preschooler How To Love Reading

1. Read together every day. When you read books to your child, use a happy expression and humorous voice that demonstrate that reading is a happy and enjoyable pastime.
2. Build vocabulary early. No matter where you are or what you’re doing, point out the names of people, places, and things to your child. Never be too busy to answer the “what’s that?” question.
3. Read favorite books over and over again. Yes, that book might no longer be very interesting the 300th time your child asks you to read it. But being able to predict what’s coming next and connecting those words with the printed letters on the page is your preschooler’s first step toward learning how to read.

Want to learn more about how Just For Kids LLC teaches preschoolers in Chicago how to love reading? Contact us for enrollment information today!